Button-sewing machine.



UNITED STATES PATENT. CFFICE.

JOHN COTTER PELTON, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LEROYE. MOSHER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BUILDING CONSTRUGTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,219, dated .iune19,1900.

Application filed August 19. 1899. Serial No. 727,760- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN CoTTER PELToN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in BuildingConstruction, of Which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to improvements in to building construction, andparticularly to the construction of a floor that shall possess unusualfirmness and strength, while at the same time being unusually light inconsequence of the economical employment and I 5 distribution of theseveral parts thereof. In

addition to the abovefeatures the floor possesses the advantage of beingfireproof.

My object, therefore, is to provide a flooring for buildings that may besimply and rapeo idly constructed and that shall combine the aboveadvantages.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional View of a portion of flooring,said section being taken on a line parallel with the iron beams commonlyemployed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the details ofconstruction, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of anotherdetail. Fig. 4 is a side elevation .of a detached strengthening-core of.what I shall hereinafter term a lintel-block. Fig.

5 is a sectional modification. Fig. 6 is a section of a portion of alintel and strengthening-core.

A is a floor block or tile. B is an internal 3 5 metallicstrengthening-core in the form of a perforated sheet of metal, theopposite edges of which may, if desired, be upset or swelled or wrappedaround a rod B, by which said edges may be anchored. In constructingthis floor-block any suitable material which can be molded-for example,concrete-may be employed to envelop the perforated strengthening-stripB, which material when once set is anchored through and through saidstrip, thus making the addition to the swelled edges merely anadditional means of security. It is because the core 13 is captured bythe material of the floor-block A at so many points that.in manyinstances said core may comprise merely a comparativelythin sheet ofmetal. While it is preferable to have the perforated sheet-metal cor'eBflat, or substantially so, the same may, if desired, be concaved. Theseblocks A in my pre- -ferred construction have their ends downwardly andinwardly inclined and have a fiat, even, and comparatively-smoothbearing-surface to take up uniformly against the supporting member,termed the lintel-block, which will now be referred to. The lintel-blockF is shown in detail in Fig. 2, in which its position is illustratedwith reference to the iron supporting-beams such as I prefer to employ.

D D are iron beams, cominonly termed I- beams, which derive theirsupport in the usual manner. Between these beams D D the lintel isplaced, and as many of them may be employed as may be determined isnecessary. The lintel-block comprises a central strengthening-core E ofsuitable material, preferably metal, in which core are arranged rows ofobliquely-faced perforations, by which I mean rows of perforations whichare inclined in opposite directions away from the center of the arch,the pitch of which gradually decrease toward opposite ends of the coreE, which may be readily understood by referring to Fig. t. Around thiscore is formed an envelop of concrete or other suitable material, whichpreferably entirely covers the core and passes through the perforationstherein, so as to form a secure anchorage for said'core at eachperforation, as shown in Fig. 6, which view merely illustrates a portionof a lintel F, said section being taken upon a line to indicateaperforation in said core through which the enveloping material passes.The finished lintel-block is of a shape which in general may be bestseen by reference to Fig. 1, in which it will be observed that the lowerportion thereof is the thickest and preferably of an angular outline.The sides of the lintelblock converge toward its upper edge at an anglecorresponding as nearly as possible to the ends of the floor-blocks Awhich are to be supported thereby. If desired, abrupt shoulders F may beformed on the outer surface of the lintelF at a point adjacent to thelower abutting surface of the floor-blocks, which arrangement will befound very de- I00 sirable in fireproof construction. It is preferablethat the web or core E, by which the No. 652,220. Patented June 19',woo.

E. M. PHELPS.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE (Application filed Au 5, was (No Model.)

5 Sheets-Shoat 2,.

a a awm H Nb. 652,220; Patented June 19, won. E. m. PHELPS.

BUTTON SEWlNG MACHINE.

(Appliation filed Aug. 5, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheaf 3.

o J fizvaiazai? IggazaW/zefix W l (No Model.)

E. M. PHELPS.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 5, 1898.)

Patented June l9, I900.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

" No. 652,220. l Patented lune 19, I900.

E. m. PHELPS.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 5, 1898.) I (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheqt 5.

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE M. PHELPS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS-SIGNMENTS, TO THE MORLEY BUTTON-SEVING MACHINE COMPANY.

BUTTON-SEWING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,220, dated June 19,1900.

' Application filed August 5,1898. strain... 687,848. ottoman.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: the button-trough, and the end of the yield-Be it known that I, EUGENE M. PHELPS, a ing material-supporting tongue,which is secitizen of the United States of America, recured beneath thetable. Fig. ll illustrates siding at Lynn, in the county of Essex anddetails of devices which operate todetermine 55 StateofMassachnsettshaveinvented new and the formation of a certain number ofstitches useful Improvements in Button-Sewing Mathrough the eye of thebutton and to stop the chines, of which the following is aspecificasewing devices after such stitch formation. tion. Referring tothe drawings, A indicates the This invention relates to machines forsewtable, and B the arm of the machine. 60 [0 ing shank-buttonstofabric, leather, &c., the C is the main shaft, suitably hung forrotaobject being to provide an improved machine tion under the table. I)is the driving-pulof this class in respect to means for attachley,driven by a band V and running loosely ing buttons by a definite anduniform numon the end ofsaid main shaft C. A combined ber of stitchesfor each button'or otherwise, hand-wheel and friction clutch-pulleyE isse- 65 if desired, in respect to improved means for cured on said mainshaft C opposite one side transferringbuttons from ahopper to the sew ofsaid driving-pulley D, and the latter has ing devices, and to otherdetails of construca frictional engagement with the pulley E for tionhereinafter fully described; and the iurunning the machine and is freedfrom the vention consists in the peculiar construction latter forstopping the same by the action of 70 and arrangement of the buttonfeeding and a brake and clutching-lever S, which is pivscwing devices,all as hereinafter fully deotally hung above said table, as shown inscribed, and more particularly pointed out in Fig. 4.. Said hand-wheelEis stopped quickly the claims. when the driving-pulley D is thrown outof In the drawings forming part of this specicontact therewith by itsengagement with a 75 fication, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation ofleather-faced brake projection 51 on the a button-sewing machineembodying myilnclutching-lever S back of the pulley E, thereproveinentsand-is hereinafter fully described. by insuring the rest position of theneedle The said section is about on line 1 1, Fig. 2. 38 backwardly ofthe throat-plate 50., so that Fig. 1 illustrates a detail ofconstruction bethe work or fabric 41 may be easily handled 8o lowdescribed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the for successively attaching thebuttons. A

table of the machine, showing certain parts collar 53 on the main shaftC prevents endremoved therefrom for clearness of the Hills wise movementin the latter when the brake tration of others, as below described. Fig.is operated to stop the machine. Saidclutch- 3 is an under side planview of said table. ing-lever Shas an arm extending opposite the 85 Fig.4 is arear side elevation showing certain outer side of saiddriving-pulley D, having a parts in section, as below set forth. Fig. 5is convex-headed bolt T thereon, whose head a plan view of the lower endof the pivoted engages said pulley centrally when said lever section ofthe button-trough. Figs. 6, 7, and is swung to force and hold thedriving-pulley 8 illustrate different parts of the button sewagainstsaid hand-wheel E while the machine 0 4o ing and feeding devices inVarious operative is running, and swinging away from the drivpositionsrelative to the button-trough and ing-wheel causes themachine tostop,asaforeon line a: acthereof, Fig. 5, and are fully desaid. Saidclutching-lever is held normally scribed below, Fig. 8 also illustratingthe manso that the said driving-pulley D is out of enner of making thetwo-loop stitch of this magagement with the hand-wheel E by a spring 95chine. Fig. 9 isa vertical sectional view of W, supported on a post, asshown in Fig. 4. the button-hopper about on line 9 9, Fig. 1, Astartinglever Z is hung on said table, (see showing a portion of thebutton-trough in Figs. 1 and 4,) one end of which extends unfront viewand a section of the trough with a der said lever S, and a rod Y,connected to buttontherein onliney'y. Fig. 10 illustrates the outer endof said lever Z, forms a conloo 5 in perspective views the combinedpresserneetion with a suitable foot-treadle, (not footandbutton-holder,thelower extremity of shown,) so that by operating thelatter the I clutching-lever S and driving-pulley D are actuated tostart the machine, as aforesaid. A lever B, Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive,pivoted under said table, has its upper end extending opposite one edgeof the clutching-lever S and has a shoulder X for engaging the latter tohold it in the position which secures the operative contact of saidpulleys D and E. Said lever R slips out of connection with theclutching-lever S when free to swing. Therefore a lever 14, Fig. 2, ispivoted on said table, having an adjustable bearing-plate 15 on itslonger arm engaging a pitman 4, which has a certain degree of vibratorymovement, whereby said lever 14 is so caused to swing that its short armis moved against the upper end of said lever B and so holds the lattertemporarily in engagement with said clutching-lever S, and then in theopposite direction, leaving the said end of the lever R free to swingaway from the lever S. The lower end of said lever. R extends oppositethe side of a gear-wheel 0, Figs. 1, 3, and 4, which is rotated by apinion N on said main shaft 0.

A roller-stud P is carried on said gear-wheel O, which once in arevolution of the latter trips said lever R and swings its said upperend out of engagement with the clutchinglever S, letting the latterswing to carry its .said headed bolt T away from the drivingpulley D andstop the machine. The movement of the said roller-stud P relative to thelower end of the lever R is so timed that during its movement afterpassing said lever (the machine being then started again) the number ofneedle movements for sewing six (more or less) stitches through thefabric and the button-eye will be accomplished. The said pitman 4 isconnected by its upper end to the end of an arm 5, secured on arockshaft 6, hung on the side of the machine-arm B. Said pitman carrieson its lower end (see Fig. 11) a cam-yoke 3, in which are cam-engagingparts or surfaces normally at varying distances from the axis of themain shaft C, on which is the cam 2, which actuates said pitmanforlongitudinally-reciprocat ing movements and correspondingly variesthe extent of the rocking movements of said rock-shaft 6. The degree ofthe vertical movements of the presser-foot bar 9, on which is carriedthe cupped presser-foot 12, is also varied by the action of said cam 2.Said pitmau cam-yoke 3 is held in the position shown in Fig. 11 relativeto the cam 2 by the engagement of said bearing-plate 15, (on lever 14,)and when the lever 14 is freed, as aforesaid, a spring 13 draws saidcam-yokelaterally or in the direction of the arrow 49, Fig. 11, so thatthe more separated surfaces thereof are brought opposite the cam, andthus vary the movements of said pitman, as aforesaid. An arm 8 on saidrock-shaft 6 is connected to said presser-foot bar 9, as shown inFig. 1. Said presser-foot 12 has its lower end cupped or provided with aconcavity of such depth and form as best adapts the same to receive,substantially, the entire upper convex section or face of the button, sothat it may, as shown in various figures of the drawings, suitablyengage and hold the button in a position vertical to the face of thefabric to which it is to be attached while the button is being sewed on.

A cross'shaft H is hung under the table, which is rotated by abevel-gear connection with the main shaft 0, as shown. Said crossshafthas a grooved cam 46 thereon, which actuates the take-up 45, and to acrank on said cross-shaft is connected a pitman, and the latter isconnected to asliding yoke I, to which the needle-bar J and the shuttle-actuating lever M (engaging a crank on the shuttle-pivot) areconnected, as shown, and whereby the needle 38 is given its requisitemovements and said shuttle is reciprocally rotated, as usual.

The needle, oscillating shuttle 42, take-up 45, and tension 44, all ofwhich are illustrated in Fig. 2 in their relative operative relations,constitute sewing devices of wellknown character for making a stitchembodying a needle-th read and a shuttle-thread inter-looped, as shownin Fig. 8, and are herein illustrated as one of the numerousstitchforming mechanisms which is preferred for the purposes of thisinvention and whose operation is well known to those skilled in the useof sewingmachines.

Under the table A of the machine a springtongue 33 is rigidly secured byone end, Figs. 1 and 3, which constitutes a yielding support on whichare carried, beneath the usual throat-plate 50, the slotted workreceiver or support 34 and the work-holding block Fig. 1 clearlyillustrates the normal posit-ions of the last-named parts. The track ofthe needle while sewing is centrally through the button-space 36 betweensaid parts 34 and 35, (see Figs. 1 and 10,) and the cupped presserfoot12 has vertical movements centrally over said button-space.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 each illustrate the different positions which thebutton, the fabric, and the lower free extremity 28 of thebutton-raceway assume, respectively, in sewing on the buttons. Thereforeto meet the requirements of said varying or different positions, toprovide an efficient and constant supply of buttons at a point over saidneedle 38, to provide a raceway having a vibratory movement between saidfabric and presserfoot and in which the button is held while being sewedonto the fabric, and to provide for holding said raceway always inposition over said work-receiver and for the convenient exit of thesewed-on button from said raceway through a side opening the buttonseparating and feeding mechanism (illustrated in Figs. 1, 5, 6, 9, and10) is provided and is constructed and operates as follows: The saidbutton feeding and separating devices comprise a button-hopper 17,having button-conducting grooves 23 in the inner wall thereof, extendingin opposite sides of the bowl from vent the stoppage of buttons therein.

by screws 26, one border of said cover be ing left open for freecommunication with buttons that may be in said groove to pre- Saidcovered portion of the raceway extends to a supporting-post 27, securedon said table. Buttons placed in said hopper 17 are acted upon formoving them to become engaged in said button-conducting grooves 23 by aseries of brushes 18, as shown, secured in a carrier 20, the latterbeing hung on a shaft 19, extending through the wall of thebutton-hopper, and having a crank 21 on its outer end. An arm 7, securedon said rockshaft 6, is connected by a link 22 with said crank 21, andthereby the brush-body and brushes are given a swinging motion, wherebythe buttons are acted upon, as stated. In Fig. 2 the upper end of saidpost 27, which supports the .lower end of said upper raceway-section 24,is shown in section and illustrates two fixed outside sections of saidpost and two next adjoining sections of the lower .end of saidraceway-section 2 1, and pins 52 lock said last-named parts to saidpost. The lower or vibratory section 28 of the raceway is hinged by itsupper end to said post 27,

said pins 52 also attaching it thereto, and.

they constitute the pintles of the uniting-joint of said sections 28 andpost. A button-eye groove in said racewaysection 28 com muni cates withthe like groove of said upper raceway-section 24: and extends nearly tothe lower free end thereof, where the formation is as illustrated inFig. 5that is, having no exit at its extremity in line with thebutton-eye groove, but having such exit at one side of said groove,whereby each button after having been sewed to the fabric is drawnlaterally out of the raceway. Furthermore, on the under side of the partof the latter which lies operatively over said slotted work-receiver 34:is a projecting lip 81, Fig. 10, for engagement in the slot of said part34, whereby when a button is drawn out of the raceway the latter issupported against lateral strain. Said lower raceway-section 28 isnormally held with its lower end swung upwardly by a spring 29thereunder, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby the eyes of the buttons thereinare primarily held above the fabric 41, to which they are to be sewed.The degree of upwardly-swinging movement of said section 28 isadjustable by means of a restraining-hook 30, having an arm engaging thelatter, and means are thus provided for permitting a vertically-swingingmovement of said racewaysection in consonance with the movements of thepresser-foot, thus causing the head of the button to be kept inengagement with the said concavity in the lower end of said presserfoot12 to such extent as may be desired while the button is being sewed on.The lower screw-threaded end of said hook 30 passes through a verticalslot in said supporting-post 27, and a nut thereon (see Figs. 1 and 4)serves to hold the same when adjusted Vertically.

In Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, the presser-foot 12, a button, a section ofthe raceway-section 28, the extremity of the loop-engaging hook 13 ofthe shuttle, the slotted work-receiver 34, and a part of the needle areshown, all somewhat enlarged, in order that the relative posi tionsthereof in respect to the fabric 41 (there shown) in the differentstages of the operation of sewing on abutton may be clearly understood.The said button-sewing operation is as follows, and the positions of thepresserfoot 12, the raceway-section 28, the lower button therein, andthe fabric tl, held by the operator,are such as the said parts arebrought to during said operation. In Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the partsare shown in the relative positions of rest which they occupy prior tosewing on a button.

Operation: The treadle actuating the starting-lever Z is pressed,thereby lifting the end of the clutching-lever S, freeing the brakeprojection 51 thereon from the hand-wheel E, and at the same timecarrying the drivingpulley D against said hand-wheel E. The lever S isnow engaged by the lever B, as stated, and the lower arm of the lever Ris subject to be acted upon by said roller-stud P on the gear-wheel O,as described. The positions now assumedby the last-named parts result inthe movement of the lower end of the pitman 4 by the spring 13in thedirection indicated by the arrow 19, Fig. 11, thereby bringing the freeextremities of the cam-yoke 3 nearer the axis of the main driving-shaftC, thereby giving to the presserfoot 12 the extremes of movementillustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 and in which positions the sewing on of thebutton is efiected, after which the presser-foot is lifted sufficientlythrough the action of the cam 2 upon said open extremities of thecam-yoke 3 (substantially as shown in Fig. 1) to let another button cometo position between the presser-foot and the fabric and over the trackof the needle 38 to be operated upon for sewing on. In sewing the formof thecam 2, in which is provided a longer curved face, (shown on itslower side in Fig. 11,) provides for certain socalled dwells of thepresser-foot at its extreme upper and lower positions, as in Figs. 7 and8, during each of which dwells the needle completes aforward-and-backward movement at one time through both fabric andbutton-eye, (see Fig. 7,) and, next, for ward and back under saidfabric. (See Fig.

8.) The buttons follow down the two raceway-sections, the lower buttonstopping at a point over the needle, as shown in Fig. 1. The rapidvibratory movements of the lower sec? tion of the raceway, caused by theaction of the presser-foot, serve to so agitate the buttons that theyslide freely down. Fig. 6 illustrates the position of the buttonsupported said) passes through the fabric and buttoneye, the loop of thethread on the needle being looped by the sh uttle-thread in the usualway, and, as in Fig. 8, the needle is then drawn back. The presser-footnow rises, and the fabric and button, carried by the springactuated workreceiver 34, move upward therewith high enough, Fig. 8, to allow theneedle to pass once back and forth under the part of the fabric directlyunder the buttoneye, the shuttle-thread being disposed as before, andthen the parts again come to the positions of Fig. 7. Thus severalinterlocking stitches are taken alternately through the button-eye andfabric and outside the latter by moving the button-eye and fabric intoand to one side of the path of movement of the needle, and when thenumber of stitches for which the machine is set is completed the machineautomatically stops, as described. The fabric and the sewed-on buttonare then moved backwardly, drawing the button away from the racewaythrough the slot or opening 32 in one side thereof, Fig. 5. The operatorthen moves the fabric again under the raceway to space the next button,and the sewing operation is repeated.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination in a machine for sewing shank-buttons to fabric, of sewing mechanism, button-feedingmechanism comprising a hopper, and a raceway conducting buttons fromsaid hopper to the fabric, means in said raceway for retaining a buttontherein while being sewed on, means acting in conjunction with saidraceway for retaining a button therein while being sewed on, consistingof a presser-foot engaging the upper convex section of each button, andmeans for moving the button-eye and fabric into and to one side forswinging said lower section upwardly,

and for adjusting the degree of said swing ing movement, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In a machine for sewing shank-buttons to fabric, sewing mechanismcontaining a presser-foot having a concavity retaining the head of abutton therein while the latter is being sewed on, flexiblefabric-supporting devices in the table of the machine beneath saidpresser-foot, a button-hopper, a raceway conducting buttons from saidhopper to the sewing mechanism having a vibratory lower section, meanson said lower section for engagement with said fabric-supportingdevices, whereby said section is held against lateral movement, andmeans for imparting verticallyreciprocating movements to saidpresser-foot, of successivelywarying degrees, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination in a machine for sewing shank-buttons to fabric,sewing mechanism, flexible fabric-supporting devices in the table of themachine, a presser-foot having a concavity for receiving the head of abutton, button-feeding mechanism, comprisinga hopper, and a racewayhaving a vibratory lower.

section conducting buttons from said hopper to the fabric, a part onsaid vibratory section engaging said fabric-supporting devices wherebysaid section is guarded against undue lateral movement, means forimparting vertically-reciprocating movements to said presser-foot ofsuccessively-varying degrees, and means for swinging the extremity ofsaid vibratory section toward the presser-foot, substantially asdescribed.

EUGENE M. PHELPS.

Witnesses:

EVA STUART STONE, ROBERT W. THoMsoN.

